Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12892, Abel Fairchild, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Fairchild Abel
S. 12892
carded
CONTENTS

20. Sept New York
Abel Fairchild
of Chautauqua in the State of New York who was a Private in the Comp. commanded by Epiphany Nichols of the Reg. commanded by Col. Whiting in the Regiment . time for 10 mos.
Inscribed on the Roll of N. York is the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30. day of Aug. 1833 and Mrs. A. Niles Cincinnati
Arrears to the 4th of Mar. '35 $ 66.66 Semi-ann. allowance ending 1st Sep.  16.66 $ 83.33
{ Revolutionary Claim, } Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by G. C. Bates Clerk, Book E Vol. 4 Page 56

Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7 th 1832 -
State of New York
County of Chenango Esq. On this Ninth day of
October in the year, 1832, personally appeared in open court, before John Tracy, Levi Nipelow, Nathan Taylor, and Charles York - and Abijah Read, -
Judges of the court of common pleas now sitting, at the court house in the town of Norwich in and for the county of Chenango aforesaid, being at the October Term of the said court, Abel Fairchild , a resident of the town of Lincoln in the said county of Chenango and State of New York, aged seventy one years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7 th 1832 -
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated -
That he was born, at Stratford in the State of Connecticut, in the year, 1761; that he has a record of his age in his bible at home -
That he enlisted, at Stratford aforesaid, where he then lived, in May, in what year he is not certain - it was in 1780, or the year before - he has lately conversed with David Lake who was with him, and said Lake thinks it was in 1780 - The affidavit of said Lake accompanies this statement - he enlisted under David Lake, the father of the above named David Lake - That he went, on enlist- ing as aforesaid, with said David Lake, the elder, as Captain or commander of the company, it being a sergeant's squad of about 10 men, as he believes, went to New Pasture Point, near Bridgeport, in the State of Connecticut, in order to guard the coast against the enemy - that he does not recollect the name of any other officer who was there with them doing duty -

that he stayed at said New Pasture Point as one of said guard for the term of six months, being the term for which he enlisted - that said guard was considered as belonging to the company of Capt. Nichols - and to Col. Samuel Whiting's Regiment, in Gen. Silliman Brigade - That he, nor said guard, did not join said regiment during said term of service - that he then understood to believe that Gen. Silliman gave orders for said Point to be guarded, and it was therefore he and said guard went there and there did duty. That at the end of six months he was dismissed at said Point - That no other company or troops were with them while there - He did not receive a written discharge -
That he again, about the first of April, he believes, was drafted, at said Stratford, the year after the before mentioned service, and went under the command of Lieut. Odell for the term of two months, to Black Rock Fort, in the county of Fairfield in the State of Connecticut, and served there under said Lieut. Odell for the term of two months and was then & there dismissed - He does not think there was any officer there of higher rank than Lieut. Odell - nor does he remember the name of any other officer there - Understood they belonged to the command of Col. Whiting's Regiment -
That sometime after the last service he was again drafted at said Stratford, for the term of two months, and served under Capt. Ephraim Curtis - Lieut. Solomon Douth - That they went to Sassa Hill Point, at the mouth of Mill River in said county of Fairfield, and there kept guard for said two months - And were then & there dismissed -

The guard-house, was a barn - There were no other troops in company - He thinks the company consisted of about 40 men - He cannot identify the year of this service, though it was within one or two years of the close of the war -
That he has no documentary proof of his services - nor does he know of any person he can procure to testify to the same, except David Lake, who was with him in his first tour, and whose affidavit is herewith sent -
That he is known to Elisha Brewer & Abel Chandler, in his present neighborhood, who can testify in regard to his character for veracity, and as to their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution -
That after the revolutionary War he first resided at New Milford in the State of Connecticut for 2 or 3 years - then at Kent adjoining about as long - then at Bethlehem a while - then at Stratford, his native town a few years - and then he removed to Litchfield in the town of Chenango aforesaid, his present residence where he continued to reside ever since, having lived in said last place 35 years -
He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State - Sworn to and subscribed the 2 nd day and year aforesaid
J. H. P. P. O. W.
Abel Fairchild
We Elisha Brewer - residing in the town of Litchfield in the county of Chenango aforesaid, and Abel Chandler - residing in Pitkin in said county, - hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Abel Fairchild, who has submitted

and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy one years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion - Sworn and subscribed the day and Elisha Brewer year aforesaid -
J. K. Pike Clerk Abel Chandler
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a soldier of the revolution and served as he states - And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Elisha Brewer - who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident in the town of Lincoln, in the county of Chenango aforesaid, and that Abel Chandler - who has also signed the same is a resident in Pitcher in said county - and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit -
M c Tracy Hez. Hoad Levi Bigelow Nathan Spyles } Judges
State of New York County of Chenango - Esq. J. Garvis R. Pike, Clerk of the court of common pleas in and for the county of Chenango aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Abel Fairchild for a pension - In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the said clerk's office this - tenth - day of October in the year of our Lord, 1832 -
J. K. Pike Clerk

St. Louis
15912 ✓
acme 10 mo. free $33.33

Onida County ss. David Lake of Paris County aforesaid, being duly sworn deposes and says. That he is well acquainted with Abel Fairchild of Lincklaen, Chenango County, N.Y. and enlisted with said Fairchild at Stratford, Fairfield County Connec- ticut, and went in a company commanded by David Lake the father of this deponent. under the direction of Gen. Silliman of Fairfield aforesaid. to a place near Bridgeport situate on Long Island Sound. then called New Pasture Point. to guard the coast from the incursions of the Enemy That he continued with said Fairchild in service as aforesaid for the space of six months from the first of May 1780. when they were dismissed & returned home. to Stratford aforesaid - & further this deponent says not -
I was & subscribed this 3 { David Lake 2 nd day of October 1832 } before me Reuben Bacon J. Pease

State of New York
Clerk's Office Oneida County ss I George Brown Clerk of the said County do hereby certify that Reuben Bacon Esquire before whom the within affidavit purports to have been sworn and taken was on the day of the date of the same one of the Justices of the peace of the said County and duly authorized by law to act as such - and that I am well acquainted with his hand writing & verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit is his true hand writing and signature
Witness my hand and seal of Office this third day of October. A.D. 1832
Geo. Brown Clerk Joseph B. Read Dist. Clerk.
I Reuben Bacon the Justice of Peace before whom the within affidavit was taken do certi- fy that I am well acquainted with said David Lake the witness and that he is a person of credibility and truth
Reuben Bacon Justice of Peace

State of New York County of Chenango ss Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a justice of the peace of the town of Pitcher in said county, Abel Fairchild , who being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that the reason of his not obtaining a clergyman to testify as to his belief respecting the age of him the said Fairchild, and also as to the general belief in the neighborhood of said Fairchild, in regard to his revolutionary ser- vices, was, that at the time of application October last, there was no clergyman in his neighborhood or vicinity, with whom he had ever conversed in regard to said servi- ces, nor with whom he had acquaintance. There had been a young man, who lived in his neigh- borhood a few months before, who was a clergyman, but he left the latter part of August preceding, and went to the State of Pennsylvania, as deponent has been informed and believes to be true, to render said declarant was therefore under the necessity to obtain the evidence of two citizens - he therefore ob- tained theirs; and deponent adds that Mr. Drown, one of his witnesses, is a near neighbor, & has been for above eighteen years past, and with whom he had very frequent intercourse - And Mr. Chandler, his other witness was, and is, the Post Master in the town of Pitcher adjoining Linchland, late member of Assembly of said county of Chenango, and with whom declarant has been well acquainted for more than thirty years past; and further deponent saith not. Sworn and subscribed this 21 st day of May, 1833, Abel Fairchild

before me, the undersigned - and further certify that I am well acquainted with said Abel Fairchild and that he is a credible person -
Elizabeth Garrison Mrs Garrison
State of New York } ss Chenango County } the said County ss. certify that Elijah Tustin is before whom the preceding affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same one of the justices of the peace in and for the said County that I am acquainted with his hand writing and verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his genuine hand writing and signature -
Witness my hand and seal of Office this 30 day of May 1833.
J. K. Pike Atty

Revtran
✓ 12.892 INVALID.
File No. 12.892
Abel Fairchild
Pris. Rev. War.
Act: June 9 th 1832
Index:—Vol. _____, Page _____
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Abel Fairchild
asmd.
12-111
Barack Niles
Emunatus N.Y.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Abel Fairchild of Chenango county N.Y. which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? Two citizens
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? No
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? Yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? Yes
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? all answered
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

Cincinnati, 604. 6 th N. 3 rd
June 3 rd 1888 -
Sir, I herewith return the evi. of Mr. Abel Fairchild's claim for a pension, amended - Allow me to remark that on its return to me from the War Department, I detached the affid. of David Lake, and sent it by mail to R. Bacon Esq. the Justice before whom it was taken, requesting him to certify to the if he could do it completely - validity of the witness. It has been this day rec d . back from Mr. Bacon. I have that proper to send his letter to me covering its return -
I trust it will be satisfactory to the Dep- artment -
With sentiments of the greatest esteem I am very Respectfully
Barah Niles
W.B. when acted on the Dept. will please make return to me and oblige all h Respectfully
B. Niles

Waterville N.Y. May 31 st - per R. Bacon P.M.
Barak Niles Esq.
Cincinnati
Courtland L. [Signature]
FREE

Waterville May 30 th 1833
B. Niles Esq re
Sir
I return the affidavit of Mr. Lake agreeable to your request, I did not date my certificate, if you think it necessary to have it dated you can do it or if that will not be proper you may send to me & I will do so, I did not know but it would be best not to have it dated
Yours respectfully
Reuben Bacon